Strict Fast
Readings for today:
St. Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians 4:1-12
Luke 11:42-46
Feasts and Saints celebrated today:
Wednesday of the 7th Week
Acepsimas the Bishop, Joseph the Presbyter, & Aeithalas the Deacon, Martyrs of Persia
Dedication of the Temple of the Holy Great Martyr George in Lydia
Holy Father and New Hieromartyr Gregory of Neapolis
Theodore the Confessor, Bishop of Ancyra
George of Neapolis the New Martyr
Epistle Reading
The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians 4:1-12
BRETHREN, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you learned
from us how you ought to live and to please God, just as you are
doing, you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave
you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your
sanctification: that you abstain from unchastity; that each one of you know how
to take a wife for himself in holiness and honor, not in the passion
of lust like the heathen who do not know God; that no man
transgress, and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an
avenger in all these things, as we solemnly forewarned you. For God has
not called us for uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore whoever
disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to
you. But concerning the love of the brethren you have no need to have
any one write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to
love one another; and indeed you do love all the brethren throughout
Macedonia. But we exhort you, brethren, to do so more and more, to aspire to
live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands,
as we charged you; so that you may command the respect of outsiders,
and be dependent on nobody.
(C) 2010 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Gospel Reading
The reading is from Luke 11:42-46
The Lord said to the Jews who had come to him, "Woe to you Pharisees!
For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and
the love of God; these you ought to have done, without neglecting the
others. Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the
synagogues and salutations in the market places. Woe to you! For you are
like graves which are not seen, and men walk over them without knowing
it." One of the lawyers answered him, "Teacher, in saying this you
reproach us also." And he said, "Woe to you lawyers also! For you load men
with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens
with one of your fingers."
(C) 2010 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Acepsimas the Bishop, Joseph the Presbyter, & Aeithalas the Deacon, Martyrs of Persia
Reading from the Synaxarion:
Saint Acepsimas, a bishop, Saint Joseph, a presbyter, and Saint
Aethalas, a deacon, suffered exceedingly cruel torments and martyrdom
during the reign of Sapor II, King of Persia (325-379). See also April
17.
Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
Thy Martyrs, O Lord, in their courageous contest for Thee received as
the prize the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal
God. For since they possessed Thy strength, they cast down the
tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons' strengthless presumption. O
Christ God, by their prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.
Kontakion in the Second Tone
The Myst'ries of Christ thou ven'rably didst celebrate, becoming
thyself a sacrifice that He received; for the cup of Christ thou drankest
in glory, O wise Acepsimas, with thy fellow athletes, O Saint, and
ceaselessly prayest Christ for all of us.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Dedication of the Temple of the Holy Great Martyr George in Lydia
Reading from the Synaxarion:
The consecration of the Church of Saint George in Lydda of Palestine
took place during the reign of Saint Constantine the Great. See also
April 23.
Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
Liberator of captives, defender of the poor, physician of the sick, and
champion of kings, O trophy-bearer, Great Martyr George, intercede with
Christ God that our souls be saved.
Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
As we the faithful flee for refuge unto thee, O George, and thy
protection and thy speedy help, we now entreat, O prizewinner of Christ
Saviour, that we who hymn thee be delivered from the snares laid by the
enemy and from every kind of peril and adversity, that we all may cry:
Rejoice, O holy Great Martyr George.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
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